Cherwell

Cherwell's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Cherwell increased by 7.7%, from just under 132,000 to 142,000.

The addition of about 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cherwell was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cherwell

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cherwell increased by three years, from 36 to 39 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 10% of people in Cherwell are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Cherwell by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Cherwell

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Cherwell, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Cherwell, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Cherwell fell from 55% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Cherwell

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 16% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Cherwell.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Cherwell that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just under 91,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 9,500 to just over 9,700. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.2% to 6.9%.

Just under 3,200 people (1.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 1,600 in 2001 (2.3%).

The population without a religion in Cherwell increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Cherwell by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cherwell

The percentage of Cherwell residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.4% to 6.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Cherwell residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Cherwell

In 2011, 92% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 96% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Cherwell.

The percentage decreased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Cherwell from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,600 in 2001 to about 6,000 in 2011 (from 2.0% to 4.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,500 to just under 2,600 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

About 2,000 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 710 in 2001 (1.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Cherwell decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Cherwell by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Cherwell, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Cherwell fell from 13% to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 69%.

Private renting in Cherwell increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cherwell, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Cherwell residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Cherwell residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cherwell decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cherwell, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Cherwell

The percentage of employed people fell in Cherwell at a faster rate than across England.

In Cherwell, the proportion of employed people decreased from 62% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 53% to 52%.

Across the South East, the share of employed people decreased from 55% to 54%.

The rate of unemployment in Cherwell increased from 1.9% to 2.8%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 9.0% to 10%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Cherwell, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.4% to 9.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39%) households had a married couple, compared with 43% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cherwell, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 10.0% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Cherwell working less than 16 hours increased from 1.6% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 14% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Cherwell increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cherwell, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Cherwell

The percentage of households with children changed very little in Cherwell, while the proportion increased in Oxford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Cherwell).

In Cherwell, the proportion of households with children stayed close to 31% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Oxford increased from 24% to 27%.

Across the South East, the share of households with children increased from 29% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Cherwell fell from 60% to 59%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.1% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cherwell residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cherwell remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Cherwell by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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